Tautahi, one in all 10 kakapo residing at Waikato’s Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, escaped however was safely returned to Maungatautari final week. Photo / Jake Osborne
One of Waikato’s resident kākāpō has made an escape try from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.
It is believed Tautahi, 4, who arrived within the area in September as a part of a gaggle of six, used a downed tree to spice up himself over the fence and onto neighbouring farmland.
However, there isn’t any cause for ruffled feathers: the flightless fugitive was safely returned to Maungatautari final week.
Tautahi is one in all 10 kākāpō now residing in Waikato as a part of a habitat trial. All the birds put on backpack-style transmitters and GPS models which are commonly monitored by rangers, however there are some limitations to the know-how.
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This, mixed with adversarial climate and tough terrain, prevented the staff from pinpointing Tautahi for a number of days.
Department of Conservation kākāpō operations supervisor Deidre Vercoe mentioned: “Once we saw he was definitively outside the perimeter, we acted quickly and were able to return him safely to the sanctuary.”
GPS knowledge exhibits Tautahi hung out investigating the fence line, earlier than happening a hīkoi (walk) in the direction of a farm block on the southeast nook of the mountain the place he was intercepted by a ranger staff member.
Vercoe mentioned whereas the departure from the sanctuary was not excellent, it was one of many anticipated challenges of the trial.
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“Kākāpō have never lived in a fenced sanctuary before … [They] are smart, determined and excellent climbers,” she mentioned.
“The 2m-high, 47km-long fence underwent a modification ahead of the translocation to add a barrier to deter kākāpō from climbing it, however, as with any trial there is always an element of the unknown.”
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kākāpō species consultant Tāne Davis mentioned he was not shocked by the escape try.
“The manu (bird) will always challenge us …They’ve spent their life on offshore islands with no fences, so it’s natural for them to be inquisitive.”
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari basic supervisor Helen Somerville mentioned the sanctuary was going to make changes following the escape try.
“Our team will add additional vegetation clearances and increase the monitoring of Tautahi over the coming weeks to ensure he stays within the safety of the sanctuary.”
Tautahi, alongside Elwin, Kanawera, Manawanui, Taeatanga, Manaaki, Bunker, Ōtepoti, Motupōhue and Māhutonga, had been transferred from three islands off the South Island.
The translocation is a part of a historic trial to see whether or not the nocturnal parrots can thrive in a fenced sanctuary, as a result of the predator-free islands are near capability.
Sanctuary Mountain was chosen as a result of at 3400ha, it’s the largest predator-fenced habitat within the nation.
The first group of 4 kakapo was relocated in July because the second cohort of birds moved to the Waikato in September.
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Overall, the ten kākāpō are doing nicely of their new habitat, with all having handed recent well being checks.
Vercoe mentioned the feathered tentet had a interval of settling in the place they spent the primary month or so exploring their new environment.
“Once they have the lay of the land, they tend to settle into their smaller ranges. Many of the others have come up to the fence and simply turned around again. So now we know we need to pay extra-close attention to the birds who spend more time investigating the fence.”
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